Machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. r A. A. RUSSELL.

THRASHING MACHINE.

No.f255.120.

Patented Mar. 21,1882.

I-NVENTOR ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- A. A. RUSSELL.

THRASHING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 21,18 82.

on o T N E V N I ATTORNEYS N. PETERS. Phnlo-Limu n her. Washmginn, 0.4:.

(N0 Mdel.) Y K 4Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. A. RUSSELL.

THRASHING MACHINE.

N0 255,120. I I Patented Mar. 21,1882.

1 NSSES 67/, INVENTOIR ATTORNEYS I N. PEYERS. Phalouthognpfiar, Wishinglnm D. C.

4, Sheets-Sheet 4.

(N10 Model.)

A. A. RUSSELL. T'HRASHING MACHINE.

No. 255,120. Patented Mar. 21,1882.

mvmrwon ATTORNEYS N4 PETERS Pnuwumo m, Washingmn. 04 c,

UNITED STATES mesa ALLEN A. RUSSELL, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

THRASHING-MACHINE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,120, dated March 21,18fi2.

' Application filedMay 31,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN A. RU'ssELL, of

Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State which it'pertains to make and use it, reference bein ghad to the accompanyingdra wings,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to thrashing-machines or grain-separators; and it consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter be described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a separator constructed according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal vertical section of said separator. Fig. 3 is an interior view of the concave, as viewed from the feed'board, with the thrashing-cylinder removed. Fig. 4 is an interior view, showing the upper portion or roof of the concave. Fig. 5 is an interior view, showing the concave as seen from the rear, looking toward the feedboard, with the thrashing-cylinder removed. Fig. 6 is a detached view, showing the fancasing and its removable lower section. Fig. 7 is a detached view, showing the blast mechanism and its application to the straw-carrier. Fig. 8 is a detached view, showing the distributer or upper screen of the shoe. Fig. 9 is a detached view, showing the manner of and mechanism for adjusting the concave to and from the thrashing-cylinder.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine that can easily be arranged and adapted for thrashing oats, wheat, barley, clover, millet, timothy, flax, or other seedsg A is the frame-work of the machine, to which all the working parts are attached. This frame may be of any suitable character or construction to suit the necessities of the case. 7

B is the thrashing-cylinder, the thrashingteeth of which may be of any suitable character, or construction.

The concave of my machine consists of series of inclined ribs upon the back,upper, and front portion and of toothed sections upon its lower or under portion.

When the machine is used for thrashing and hullin g cloverseed the concave sectiousT T T (illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 ofthe drawings) are all employed, substantially as represented; but when the machine is used for thrashing grain or other seeds the two front concave sections T at the foot of the feed-board and the middle back section, T of the concave are removed, and a suitable number of the ordinary low and around the thrashing-cylinder. As regards the upper ribbed section, T, of the concave, (illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings,) it may be used for thrashing grain orit may be removed, as desired.

My improved concave consists of a toothed cylinder and concave sections T T T arranged to form a central feed-opening, and formed with ribs It, converging upwardly from said opening, a concave over the cylinder provided with ribs converging rearwardly, and a conca've section in rear of the cylinder arranged to leave a discharge-opening, S, at each end, and formed with ribs diverging toward said openings, so that a double spiral conductor is formed by thehulling-sections,andthematerial, as it is carried around by the cylinder, is continuously fed by the spiral ribs endwise from the middle toward the discharge-openings S at the rear side of the cylinder..

When it is desired to use the machine for thrashing grain or other seeds than clover the rear and middle concave sections, T T, (illustrated in Fig. 2,) and the two lateral front conthrashing concave sections are employed be-,.'

cave sections (illustrated in Fig. 4 of the draware supported and attached to the frame by a slot-and-pin arrangement, 0. A rod, D, carrying cams D, operates to raise andlower the concave. This rod isjournaled in the frame,

Ioo

and terminates at either one or both of its ends in a crank or bent portion upon the outside of the machine, and this crank or bent portion of the rod may be associated with an adjusting rack, D or any other suitable device, whereby the rod and its cams D may be maintained in any position, and thus hold the concave at any adjustment.

E is a rotary deflector and heater. This device is journaled to the frame of the machine, and is locatedabove the shaker F and immediately in the rear of the thrashing-cylinder. The function of the device E is to arrest the straw that is thrown against it fi om the thrashing-cylinder, and at the same time to act as a deflector to deflect the straw down to the shaker F and with its blades to beat, thereby assisting in separating, the grain.

G G are two rotary heaters, journaled to the frame of the machine and placed over the shaker Fin the rearof the deflecting-heater E. The heaters G Gr serve to agitate the straw, and thus assist in a thorough separation of the grain.

1 do not in my present invention claim anything novel in theconstruction of the shaker F. It is provided preferably with toothed bars, and is made open and given a longitudinal oscillating motion, so that the straw is carried from the thrashing-cylinder to the tail of the shaker by said oscillating movement, while the grain, as it is separated from the straw, drops down through the table to the mechanism beneath.

H is the blastfan, surrounded with the usual air-casing, the air from which is conducted through one or more pipes, or casing H, beneath the shaker F, where it is discharged up through the shaker, thus assistingnot only in the agitation of the straw, but in the separation of the grain therefrom. So far as I am awarethis feature is novel in grain-separators.

K is the riddle-fan, the air from which is employed for separating chaff from the grain as it is sifted through the screens and riddles of the shoe. It will be seen that the lower portion of the casing of the fan K projects below the frame A, and as this casing is madeof light material it would be apt when thus projecting to be broken or damaged in moving or shipping the machine. I therefore make the lower section,K, of the fan-casing removable. When the machine is in use this section is placed in its position and buttoned or otherwise secured; but when the machine is to he moved said section is taken off and the fan K turned so that its wings shall not project below the frame A. \Vhen thus arranged the machine may be moved from place to place without danger of injury to the fan K or its casing.

L is the lower table or receiving-platform, upon which the main portion of the grain falls as it is separated and sifted through the shaker F. This table, like the shaker l is given a longitudinal reciprocating or shaking motion,

and is inclined downward toward the rear of the machine. It; terminates in a bent or deflected portion, L. This end L of the table L comes down very close to the upper riddle or distributor, M, of the shoe. The table or platform L has a motion more extended and rapid than the motion of the shoe which carries the distributer M, therefore the end L will have a limited movement over the surface of the distributer. By this construction and operation the end L of the platform L performs the function of pushing the heavier portion of the chafi" down over the distributor M until it is fairly subjected to the action of the blast of the fan K.

I come now to a description of the shoe and riddles of my machine.

The effectiveness of this portion of my separator results from the construction and arrangement of its riddles and the manner in which the air-blast from the fan K is thereby allowed to act. The graiu,as it is delivered to the shoe from the table or platform L, is first received upon the distributer M. This distributer is carried by the shoe and given with it an endwise oscillating motion. It is constructed from corrugated metal. These corrugations are perforated only upon their faces that present from the end of the platform L. This method of perforating the distributer effects two results: First, the straw and chaff, as they are forced and blown toward the tail of the machine, are not liable to enter the perforations; second, the perforated faces of the distributer present toward the fan K in such a manner that air is driven directly through them, thus blowing off the chaff and straw from the distributer to the tail of the machine. Meanwhile the grain falls down through the perforations of the distributcr to the screen 0 and the floor P, where it is finally discharged into any suitable conveyor or receiver.

On account of the construction of the distributer M, already alluded to, it will be seen that it presents a solid and unbroken surface in the direction that the straw and chaff are driven over it, while in an opposite direction it is thoroughly perforated,to admit of the passage of air and the falling of the grain to the riddles beneath.

Q is a screen of woven wire, which is attached as an extension of the distributor M. This screen Q is employed when the machine is used for separating small seed, such as flax, timothy, &c. It is not necessary when the machine is employed for thrashing grain.

What I claim is- 1. In a thrashing-machine, the combination, with the straw-shaker, ot' a blast-fan, the aircasing, and the pipe supported by the frame of the machine below the shaker for sending a blast up through it, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the riddle M, of

the grain-table L, having its rear end imperforate and downwardly curved at L, the parts beingarranged,asdescribed,to cause thedown i if weirdly-projecting portion L to move over and in close proximity to the upper end of the riddle M, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a toothed cylinder and concave sections arranged to form a central feed-opening and formed with ribs converging upwardly from said openin g, a concave section over the cylinder provided with libs converging rearwardly, and a concave section 10 in rear of the cylinder arranged to leave a dissubscribing witnesses.

charge-opening at each end and formed with ribs diverging toward said disoharge-openin gs, snbstantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the ALLEN A. RUSSELL. Witnesses:

JNo. CRoWELL, Jr., ALBERT E. LYNCH.

presence of two 15 

